TUSCALOOSA, Alabama—For the first time in the history of Fairhope Youth baseball a Fairhope AA (7-8 year-old Peanuts) team has won the 2013 Dixie Youth State Championship in Tuscaloosa.

Fairhope’s AA Peanut All-Stars and 2013 Alabama State Champions are: Reid Achimon, Briggs Acton, Brooks Brasfield, Hollon Brock, Hoke Fellers, Devin Leonard, John Malone, Riley Malone, Connor Nolte, Gatlin Pitts, Steele Sims and Abe Solomon.

Last year, Fairhope’s AAA (9-10 year-old Minors) team won the Alabama state championship and advanced to the AAA World Series in Bartow, FL.

“This was a tremendous experience for the kids, their families, friends and for much of the community that watched the games live on the internet,” said coach Andy Malone. “What this year’s 7-8 year old Fairhope team has achieved is an equally great accomplishment to help Fairhope win back-to-back state championships in different age groups.”

To earn the AA DYB state title, Fairhope went undefeated in their sub-district tourney play, then went unbeaten to claim the District 7 tournament crown.

Fairhope lost their first game in the State Tournament by three runs but then won 7 games in a row for the state championship earlier this week.

While the experience has been thrilling, the financial cupboards of the players and coaches families has been draining. To offset expenses, including the trip to the 2013 DYB AA World Series in South Carolina,   donations and sponsorships are requested. To appear on the banner, sponsors must return their form by Tuesday.

“Everyone is very excited (especially the players)and can’t wait to head next week for the World Series!,” Malone said. “That’s the good news. The bad news is that this will be our fourth tournament this summer and we just got back from a full week in Tuscaloosa at the state tournament.

“This has been an unbelievable experience for the players, but has been extremely tough financially on the parents. When you consider the amount of work everyone has missed, hotel, food, travel expense, etc – it gets very expensive quick. Many of the families have used up their paid vacation time, depleted savings accounts and really cannot afford the financial burden.”

Time is also a factor, he added.

“We desperately need to raise enough money to cover this trip and only have a few days to do it (and) we leave on Thursday for South Carolina.”

To help contact Andy Malone at 261-654-1570, coach Matt Malone at 251-654-1576 or 251-990-4000, coach Davy Brasfield at 472-5209 or coach Mike Pitts at 251-455-2600.